Monthly Archives: June 2020

Cuban Revolution, Cuban Solidarity, SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA

WHy there are no george floyds in cuba


Why there are no George Floyds in Cuba – July 7, 2020

Webinar: Tuesday, July 7, 8:00 PM (Eastern), 5:00 PM (Pacific)

(This Program will go for 2 hours with Q&A)

Register Here
Nesbit Crutchfield

Call meeting to order, welcome, the introduction of co-chairs:

Nesbit Crutchfield — Involved in Progressive Solidarity activities and movements for over 52+ years. Starting with his involvement and imprisonment with the BSU/TWLF Strike @ San Francisco State University in 1968, to his activism with the Anri-Apartheid Movement in support of the ANC in the establishment of a Democratic South Africa.
A long term veteran and activist in Puerto Rican, Haitian, and Cuban Solidarity work, and is now active in the Bay Area and National Venceremos Brigade.

Co-Chairs

Jamilah Bourdon

Jamilah Bourdon—Organizer, All-African Revolutionary Party; Jamilah has been studying and organizing around anticapitalism for over half her life; She has participated in community defense organizing, anti-foreclosure security, free breakfast programs, and liberation schools. Forward ever!

Kennedee Geffinger

Kennedee Geffinger — Universal Zulu Nation Hip Hop for Humanity Committee; Children’s Programs Director, JCC Harlem; Founder, Keys to Ubuntu

Panelists

August Nimtz

August Nimtz – Author: “Why There Are No George Floyds in Cuba.”  
Co-coordinator of the Minnesota Cuba Committee; Professor of Political Science and African American and African Studies, University of Minnesota; Co-Author (with Esteban Morales), The Dynamics of Racial Discrimination in Cuba, Past and Present; Author, Marxism vs Liberalism: Comparative Real-Time Political  Analysis.

Yanet Pumariega Pérez

Yanet Pumariega Pérez  – Third Secretary, Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C.

Rodney A. Gonzalez Maestrey

Rodney A. Gonzalez Maestrey – Counselor to the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC (October 2018). Master Degree, International Relations (2011). Major in Economics, University of Havana, (2005).

Soffiyah Elijah, Esq

Soffiyah Elijah, Esq – Long Time Activist, Organizer, and Friend of Cuba

Michael Washington

Michael Washington —  Longtime Oklahoma-based Black Liberation freedom fighter and supporter of Second Amendment rights for African Americans in the tradition of Robert F. Williams and Malcolm X; Organizing project documenting African Americans killed by US police authorities to present a petition to International World Court; Certified Paralegal; Founder, Empower People Inc.; Leading organizer and participant of peaceful, legal mass actions, self-policed by Black and white-armed veterans, Oklahoma City on Juneteenth and in counter-protest to Trump’s Tulsa appearance.

Ahjamu Umi

Ahjamu Umi —  Organizer, All-African People’s Revolutionary Party for 36 years; Ahjamu does a weekly webinar series on subjects from formulating revolutionary parties and alternatives to the policing system; He has engaged in community defense for many years, standing in the face of armed white supremacists; Ahjamu has contributed to formulating liberation schools for youth in Oregon and California and around the clock anti-foreclosure house security and shutdowns. His writings can be seen at www.abetterworld.me

Gabriel Prawl

Gabriel Prawl —  President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 152. Leading organizer of an unprecedented strike of ILWU members up and down the West Coast in solidarity with Black Lives Matter against police murder and brutality.

César Omar Sánchez

César Omar Sánchez — Organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Sí Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.

Cuba Solidarity in Solidarity with
Black Lives Matter Movement

Chelliah Phillips —  An activist and organizer for POC Bergenfield Alumni and 4Change Bergen County. Also a leader and creator of a nonprofit organization 4Change Scholarship. Passionate about fighting social injustices and Human rights issues.

Vanessa Amoah —  Ghanaian-American 24-year-old Graduate Student fighting against racial injustice and part of POC Bergenfield Alumni and 4Change Bergen County organizations.

Pacey Hackett  —  LA activist and organizer at massive Black Lives Matter protests. Member, Bay Area Amazonians working to organize and unionize California warehouse workers. Active in LA US Hands Off Cuba Committee.

Mark Ginsburg —  Professor, University of Maryland. Mark has taught recently at the University of Havana in Cuba. Longtime activist with DC Metro Coalition in Solidarity With the Cuban Revolution. Participated in mass Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC.

CUBA United Nations

President Díaz-Canel sends letter to UN Secretary-General

President Díaz-Canel sends letter to UN Secretary-General
“The moment and common sense demand that the international community set aside political differences and seek joint solutions to global problems through international cooperation”

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdezjune 26, 2020 14:06:17

Photo: MINREX
Havana, June 26, 2020

Year 62 of the Revolution

Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Gutérres

United Nations Secretary-General New York

Your Excellency:

Seventy-five years after the member states of this organization signed the United Nations Charter, strict adherence to its purposes and principles, to international law and the preservation of multilateralism are more important than ever.

We are facing multiple crises as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with devastating effects, visible in all spheres of society, expected to last and aggravate pending global challenges.

The international panorama is increasingly complex. Conflicts and the arms race are proliferating. Non-conventional wars for the purpose of domination, acts of aggression, unilateral coercive measures, the manipulation and politicization of human rights and disrespect for the self-determination of peoples are intensifying. Multilateralism is attacked, international agreements ignored and the role of organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization is discounted.

At the same time, the current unjust international economic order deepens inequality and underdevelopment; while increasing poverty, hunger, marginalization and limited access to essential services, such as health care.

The moment and common sense demand that the international community set aside political differences and seek joint solutions to global problems through international cooperation.

It is the duty of all to keep the commitments we made when we signed the UN Charter, which continues to be an enduring, universal and indispensable basis for promoting a just, democratic and equitable international order that responds to the demands of the peoples of the world for peace, development and justice, and contributes to meeting the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

I take advantage of the opportunity to reiterate, to your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration and esteem.

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

President of the Republic of Cuba

Cuban Education

UNESCO recognizes Cuba’s leadership in education

In a recent report, the United Nations organization recognized Cuba’s work to achieve quality, inclusive education

Enrique Moreno Gimeranezjune 25, 2020 10:06:54

Photo: UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized the results of Cuba’s work to achieve quality, inclusive education in the 2020 Global Monitoring Report on Education for All -known as the GEM report.

This global monitoring mechanism is used to evaluate progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDA) No. 4: Ensure inclusive, equitable, quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The 2020 report emphasizes that Cuba has achieved 100% participation in early childhood education, in accordance with target 4.2 of this goal: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood care and development and preschool education, so that they are ready for primary school.”

Yahima Esquivel, Cuba’s permanent representative to UNESCO, noted on her Twitter account that the report “recognizes the effectiveness of the Cuban program “Educate your Child” in ensuring inclusive, quality education from early childhood and in rural contexts,” and praises “Cuba’s Sex Education Program, highlighting its preventive approach, gender and sexual rights, throughout the basic curriculum, optional courses and postgraduate studies.”

The diplomat likewise commented on the international organization’s recognition of Cuba exemplary work on inclusion of students with special needs in the conventional education system.

Once again, UNESCO recognizes the leadership of Cuba in this sector at the world level, a nation that in Article 73 of its Constitution states, “Education is a right of all persons and a responsibility of the state, which guarantees free, accessible, quality education services for comprehensive development, from early childhood to postgraduate university education.”

Cuban Heroine and Heroes

Honors for Cuba’s eternal father, Fidel

Honors for Cuba’s eternal father, Fidel
In Santiago de Cuba’s legendary Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, a representative group of provincial leaders honored Fidel, founding father Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and our José Martí, on behalf of the Cuban people

Eduardo Palomaresjune 22, 2020 09:06:39

Two floral wreaths from Raúl and Díaz-Canel were placed before the monumental boulder that holds the ashes of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, on the occasion of Fathers Day.

Photo: Eduardo Palomares
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.— Floral wreaths from Army General Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez were placed before the monumental boulder in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery that holds the ashes of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, on the occasion of Fathers Day, conveying the sentiment of a people who, in these days of battle, turn to the legacy of our eternal father, sure of victory.

Lazaro Expósito and Beatriz Johnson led the tribute in Santiago de Cuba’s legendary Santa Ifigenia Cemetery.

Photo: Eduardo Palomares
Lazaro Expósito Canto and Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, members of the Party Central Committee and the highest authorities of the Provincial Defense Council, assumed the task, on a morning when, the tribute offered on behalf of the Cuban people was extended to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and José Martí, as well.

This reverence was also present in a message from President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who congratulated Cuban fathers, tweeting, “In a nation of worthy fathers who defeated two empires, fatherhood is a source of pride.”

Authorities of the Provincial Defense Council honored the country’s founding father, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes.

Photo: Eduardo Palomares
In another message to Cuban medical professionals battling the COVID-19 pandemic in more than 20 countries, the President stated: “My first greeting this Sunday, Fathers Day, is for the doctors and nurses of the Henry Reeve brigade, who left behind the embrace of their children to kiss to the world, where there is the most suffering,” in a reference to the Buena Fe song Valientes.